5Point Film Fest – Night 1

When I sat down in the theater last night and looked around, I was impressed. This was a legit event, with a very polished feel. Not bad for the first one ever! The festivities kicked off with burritos and beers, and everyone was in a lively mood. Old friends caught up on their lives, while kids climbed on the artificial boulder and saw how far they could jump off the top. When it was time for the films, anticipation ran high, and the showings did not disappoint.

First up was a short called Ephemere showcasing the relationship between movement and time. Definitely the most “artsy” of the group, it was a fun way to get things started. Next up was a fly fishing film, Destinations, that was incredibly well done. At first I was like, man, I fish, it’s exciting to do, but not so much to watch. But these guys really put together a solid piece that everyone enjoyed.

And then we turned it up a notch with King Lines. Many climbers had already seen this, but it’s always good. I still think its the best climbing movie I’ve ever seen. Watching Chris Sharma push it to the limit makes me want to get out there and seek my own personal best. Inspiring stuff I tell you!

The last film before intermission was called Source, and featured a bunch of crazy kayakers. I think I have a harder time wrapping my head around kayaking, at least at the level these guys pursue. Climbing hard is pretty safe, even skiing big lines can be relatively safe. But dropping gigantic waterfalls in a boat? Lou Dawson and I were joking they should just ditch the boats in favor of an oversized PFD, or maybe even a barrel! Cool to see them pushing it, but it just looks so damn dangerous.

After intermission we were treated to another short, this one an excerpt featuring skier Nick De Vore from the film Mountain Town. Lots of good ski porn shots here, including many recognizable spots in our backyard. It also gave some glimpse into what makes him tick as a person, always a plus in my book.

The next film was more sobering. A Dozen More Turns is a documentary of an avalanche accident that took place in Montana in the winter of 2005 in which one person was killed and another came perilously close to losing his life. It’s very well done, and really shows the human side of the consequences of taking it to far in the wrong conditions. A good reality check for those of us that are out there taking risks in the backcountry.

Seasons was the closer of the night, a mountain biking film that followed around several riders throughout the course of the year. In winter they are training via whatever means they can, spring things start to ramp up, summer is full on, and the fall is all about fun with friends. I don’t ride anymore, but I thought this was really well done. The cinematography alone was captivating, with endless creative shots that really captured the essence of these incredible riders. I thought it dragged just a bit in the middle, but that could have been because it was getting late.

As the credits rolled, we all made for the door and bed, excited to see what the next day’s films will bring. If you don’t have tickets for tonight, come early, cause the place was packed!